Congratulations Joseph Jeff Nominees

Production – Play – Large
Around the World in 80 Days, Lookingglass Theatre Company
As You Like It, Writers' Theatre
The Comedy of Errors, Chicago Shakespeare Theater
The Crucible, Steppenwolf Theatre Company
Passion Play: a cycle in three parts, Goodman Theatre
Superior Donuts, Steppenwolf Theatre Company
The Trip to Bountiful, Goodman Theatre

Production - Play – Midsize
Cadillac, Chicago Dramatists
Defiance, Next Theatre Company
Juno and the Paycock, The Artistic Home
The Philadelphia Story, Remy Bumppo Theatre Company
Requiem for a Heavyweight, Shattered Globe Theatre
A Steady Rain, Chicago Dramatists
W;t, The Gift Theatre

Production – Musical – Large
Carousel, Court Theatre and Long Wharf Theatre
La Cage aux Folles, Theatre at the Center
Les Misérables, Marriott Theatre
Passion, Chicago Shakespeare Theater
The Producers, Marriott Theatre
Sweet Charity, Drury Lane Oakbrook

Production – Musical – Midsize
The Hunchback of Notre Dame, Bailiwick Repertory Theatre
Nine, Porchlight Music Theatre Chicago

Production - Revue
Ain't Misbehavin', Goodman Theatre
Campaign Supernova! or How Many Democrats Does It Take to Lose an Election?, The Second City e.t.c.
Ella, Northlight Theatre
The Mistress Cycle, Apple Tree Theatre

Ensemble – sponsored by Actors' Equity Association
Altar Boyz, Alter Boyz Chicago, LLC
Around the World in 80 Days, Lookingglass Theatre Company
Because They Have No Words, Piven Theatre
Campaign Supernova! or How Many Democrats Does It Take to Lose an Election?, The Second City e.t.c.
Funk It Up About Nothin', Chicago Shakespeare Theater
Les Misérables, Marriott Theatre
Nine, Porchlight Music Theatre Chicago
Sounds So Good Makes You Wanna Holler (Old School vs. New School), Black Ensemble Theater

New Work
Yussef El Guindi, Our Enemies: Lively Scenes of Love and Combat, Silk Road Theatre Project
Keith Huff, A Steady Rain, Chicago Dramatists
Bill Jepsen, Cadillac, Chicago Dramatists
Joel Drake Johnson, Four Places, Victory Gardens Theater
Tracy Letts, Superior Donuts, Steppenwolf Theatre Company
GQ and JQ, Funk It Up About Nothin', Chicago Shakespeare Theater
Eric Rosen, Wedding Play, About Face Theatre

New Adaptation
Laura Eason, Around the World in 80 Days, Lookingglass Theatre Company
Ron West, The Comedy of Errors, Chicago Shakespeare Theater

Director - Play
William Brown, As You Like It, Writers' Theatre
Lou Contey, Requiem for a Heavyweight, Shattered Globe Theatre
Barbara Gaines, The Comedy of Errors, Chicago Shakespeare Theater
Mark E. Lococo, The Miser, Northlight Theatre
PJ Paparelli, Speech & Debate, American Theater Company
Edward Sobel, Cadillac, Chicago Dramatists
Russ Tutterow, A Steady Rain, Chicago Dramatists

Director - Musical
Jim Corti, Meet Me In St. Louis, Drury Lane Oakbrook
Jim Corti, Sweet Charity, Drury Lane Oakbrook
Gary Griffin, Passion, Chicago Shakespeare Theater
Dominic Missimi, Les Misérables, Marriott Theatre
Charles Newell, Carousel, Court Theatre and Long Wharf Theatre
Marc Robin, The Producers, Marriott Theatre

Director - Revue
Stafford Arima, Alter Boyz, Altar Boyz Chicago, LLC
Jim Carlson, No Country for Old White Men, The Second City
Kurt Johns, The Mistress Cycle, Apple Tree Theatre
Rob Ruggiero, Ella, Northlight Theatre
Chuck Smith, Ain't Misbehavin', Goodman Theatre

Actor in a Principal Role - Play
Jon Michael Hill, Superior Donuts, Steppenwolf Theatre Company
D. J. Howard, Driving Miss Daisy, First Folio Shakespeare Festival
John Judd, Shining City, Goodman Theatre
Nick Sandys, Much Ado About Nothing, First Folio Shakespeare Festival
Randy Steinmeyer, A Steady Rain, Chicago Dramatists
Sean Sullivan, Requiem for a Heavyweight, Shattered Globe Theatre

Actor in a Principal Role - Musical
Larry Adams, Phantom, Theatre at the Center
Guy Adkins, The Producers, Marriott Theatre
John Cudia, Les Misérables, Marriott Theatre
Ross Lehman, The Producers, Marriott Theatre
Jeff Parker, Nine, Porchlight Music Theatre Chicago

Actress in a Principal Role- Play
Karen Aldridge, The Cook, Goodman Theatre
Shannon Cochran, The Lion in Winter, Writers' Theatre
Mary Beth Fisher, The Little Dog Laughed, About Face Theatre
Alexandra Main, W;t, The Gift Theatre
Lois Smith, The Trip to Bountiful, Goodman Theatre
Mary Ann Thebus, Four Places, Victory Gardens Theater

Actress in a Principal Role - Musical
Ana Gasteyer, Passion, Chicago Shakespeare Theater
Heidi Kettenring, Little Women, Marriott Theatre
Johanna McKenzie Miller, Phantom, Theatre at the Center
Summer Naomi Smart, Sweet Charity, Drury Lane Oakbrook
Kathy Voytko, Passion, Chicago Shakespeare Theater

Solo Performance
Bradley Armacost, C. S. Lewis on Stage, Provision Theater Company
Thomas J. Cox, Nelson Algren: For Keeps and a Single Day, Lookingglass Theatre Company and the Museum of Contemporary Art
Judith Ivey, The Lady With All The Answers, Northlight Theatre
Michael Joseph Mitchell, Underneath the Lintel, City Lit Theater in association with BoarsHead Theater and CRM Productions, Inc.
Nilaja Sun, No Child... Lookingglass Theatre Company

Actor in a Supporting Role - Play
Joe Dempsey, Wedding Play, About Face Theatre
Kevin Douglas, Around the World in 80 Days, Lookingglass Theatre Company
Kevin McKillip, Jeeves Intervenes, First Folio Shakespeare Theatre
Rob Riley, Cadillac, Chicago Dramatists
Brian Sills, Cymbeline, Chicago Shakespeare Theater
Mark Ulrich, Juno and the Paycock, The Artistic Home
Larry Yando, As You Like It, Writers' Theatre

Actor in a Supporting Role - Musical
Richard Todd Adams, Les Misérables, Marriott Theatre
Brandon Dahlquist, Knute Rockne All-American, Theatre at the Center
Rob Lindley, Carousel, Court Theatre and Long Wharf Theatre
Michael Aaron Lindner, The Producers, Marriott Theatre
Stephen Schellhardt, Little Women, Marriott Theatre

Actress in a Supporting Role - Play
Lesley Bevan, Othello, Chicago Shakespeare Theater
Hallie Foote, The Trip to Bountiful, Goodman Theatre
Ora Jones, Carter's Way, Steppenwolf Theatre Company
Polly Noonan, Passion Play: a cycle in three parts, Goodman Theatre
Jacqueline Williams, The Miser, Northlight Theatre

Actress in a Supporting Role - Musical
Marilynn Bogetich, Phantom, Theatre at the Center
Cory Goodrich, Hello, Dolly!, Theatre at the Center
Jessie Mueller, Carousel, Court Theatre and Long Wharf Theatre
Alene Robertson, The Full Monty, Marriott Theatre
Kathy Voytko, Les Misérables, Marriott Theatre

Actor in a Revue
John Steven Crowley, Ain't Misbehavin', Goodman Theatre
Brian Crum, Alter Boyz, Altar Boyz Chicago, LLC
James Rank, The American Dream Songbook, Next Theatre Company

Actress in a Revue
E. Faye Butler, Ain't Misbehavin', Goodman Theatre
E. Faye Butler, Ella, Northlight Theatre
Laura Grey, Campaign Supernova! or How Many Democrats Does It Take to Lose an Election?, The Second City e.t.c.
Angela Ingersoll, The Mistress Cycle, Apple Tree Theatre
Amber Ruffin, No Country for Old White Men, The Second City

Scenic Design - Large
Brian Sidney Bembridge, The Goodbye Girl, Drury Lane Oakbrook
Brian Sidney Bembridge, Meet Me In St. Louis, Drury Lane Oakbrook
E. David Cosier, The Trip to Bountiful, Goodman Theatre
Allen Moyer, Passion Play: a cycle in three parts, Goodman Theatre
Keith Pitts, The Defiant Muse, Victory Gardens Theater

Scenic Design - Midsize
Kevin Depinet, Cadillac, Chicago Dramatists
Kevin Hagan, Suddenly, Last Summer, Shattered Globe Theatre
Kevin Hagan, Requiem for a Heavyweight, Shattered Globe Theatre
Chelsea Meyers, Juno and the Paycock, The Artistic Home
Jacqueline & Richard Penrod, The Philadelphia Story, Remy Bumppo Theatre Company

Costume Design - Large
Nikki Delhomme, La Cage aux Folles, Theatre at the Center
Ana Kuzmanic, The Comedy of Errors, Chicago Shakespeare Theater
Nancy Missimi, The Producers, Marriott Theatre
Nancy Missimi, Les Misérables, Marriott Theatre
Tatjana Radisic, Meet Me in St. Louis, Drury Lane Oakbrook

Costume Design - Midsize
Karen Kawa, Fatboy, A Red Orchid Theatre
Rachel Laritz, The Philadelphia Story, Remy Bumppo Theatre Company
Elsa Hiltner, Driving Miss Daisy, First Folio Shakespeare Festival
Cybele Moon, Suddenly, Last Summer, Shattered Globe Theatre
Bill Morey, Nine, Porchlight Music Theatre Chicago

Sound Design - Large
Cecil Averett, Passion Play: a cycle in three parts, Goodman Theatre
Barry G. Funderburg, Carter's Way, Steppenwolf Theatre Company
Andrew Hansen, As You Like It, Writers' Theatre
Joshua Horvath, Around the World in 80 Days, Lookingglass Theatre Company
Andre Pluess, The Turn of the Screw, Writers' Theatre

Sound Design - Midsize
Jack Arky, Because They Have No Words, Piven Theatre
Andre Pluess, Much Ado About Nothing, First Folio Shakespeare Festival
Miles Polaski, White People, The Gift Theatre
Mike Tutaj, Requiem for a Heavyweight, Shattered Globe Theatre
Mike Tutaj, Suddenly, Last Summer, Shattered Globe Theatre

Lighting Design - Large
Lee Keenan, Around the World in 80 Days, Lookingglass Theatre Company
Jesse Klug, Sweet Charity, Drury Lane Oakbrook
J. R. Lederle, The Turn of the Screw, Writers' Theatre
Philip S. Rosenberg, Cymbeline, Chicago Shakespeare Theater
Diane Ferry Williams, Les Misérables, Marriott Theatre

Lighting Design - Midsize
Christopher Ash, Wedding Play, About Face Theatre
Mike Durst, Requiem for a Heavyweight, Shattered Globe Theatre
John Horan, The Hunchback of Notre Dame, Bailiwick Repertory Theatre
John Horan, W;t, The Gift Theatre
J. R. Lederle, Fiction, Remy Bumppo Theatre Company

Choreography
David H. Bell, Knute Rockne All-American, Theatre at the Center
Christopher Gattelli, Alter Boyz, Altar Boyz Chicago, LLC
Mitzi Hamilton, Sweet Charity, Drury Lane Oakbrook
Rudy Hogenmiller, La Cage aux Folles, Theatre at the Center
Marc Robin, The Producers, Marriott Theatre

Original Incidental Music
Andrew Hansen, As You Like It, Writers' Theatre
Alaric Jans & Lindsay Jones, Cymbeline, Chicago Shakespeare Theater
Darrell Leonard, Carter's Way, Steppenwolf Theatre Company
Kevin O'Donnell, Around the World in 80 Days, Lookingglass Theatre Company
David Pavkovic, Nelson Algren: For Keeps and A Single Day, Lookingglass Theatre Company and the Museum of Contemporary Art

Fight Choreography
Kevin Asselin, As You Like It, Writers' Theatre
Robin McFarquhar, Cymbeline, Chicago Shakespeare Theater
Nick Sandys, The Defiant Muse, Victory Gardens Theater
Nick Sandys, Requiem for a Heavyweight, Shattered Globe Theatre

Musical Direction
Rob Berman, Passion, Chicago Shakespeare Theater
George Caldwell, Ella, Northlight Theatre
Eugene Dizon, Nine, Porchlight Music Theatre Chicago
Brad Haak, Les Misérables, Marriott Theatre
Doug Peck, Carousel, Court Theatre and Long Wharf Theatre
Jimmy Tillman, Sounds So Good Makes You Wanna Holler (Old School vs. New School), Black Ensemble Theater

Artistic Specializations
Rupert Bohle, Passion Play: a cycle in three parts, Goodman Theatre
Marty Higginbotham & Bobby Richards, Speech & Debate, American Theater Company
John Musial, Nelson Algren: For Keeps and A Single Day, Lookingglass Theatre Company and the Museum of Contemporary Art
Mike Tutaj, I Do! I Do!, American Theater Company
Mike Tutaj, Our Enemies: Lively Scenes of Love and Combat, Silk Road Theatre Project

...and we're back...

How is it possible that August disappeared so quickly? Although we still have weeks of great weather -- usually the best of the entire year -- I've always felt like when August is done, so is summer.

And with fall, no matter how long it's been since I've sat in a classroom, I always feel like it's time to start getting ready for school. Or revamping audition materials. For me, September 1 has always felt like the real New Year's Day.

And what's more, I've been doing headshots for a full year now! I can hardly believe it. I've worked with some the best and brightest talent in Chicago and we've generated some incredible, fresh images that have landed people work. From the off-Loop, non-Equity theatre scene, to independent films, to modeling agencies, and soon even in London actors and theater companies will be using Archetype Images to tell the entertainment industry who they are.

And for me, this summer has been one of the greatest learning experiences. I've been expanding my skills and started working in the wedding industry. If you thought a tech week was tough, try juggling a couple of weddings and then get back to me.

But the building of the wedding portfolio has begun. I have three scenarios in the can, so to speak, and two more planned. Wedding photos are an entirely different genre from marketing images, but there are definitely some common themes. It's all about telling a story and using all of the components of a still image to convey that story, including color, composition, light and subject. It's a fascinating area and in the coming weeks I look forward to sharing some incredible images I've taken as well as revamping the website to include my wedding packages.

20080-2009 is going to be a great year!

How Are They Doing?

As we head into our August vacation, I thought it was a great opportunity to catch up with some Archetype Alums and see what they've been up to, and what they have planned for the upcoming season.

Joette Waters recently shot a short film that is under consideration for inclusion in the Democratic National Convention. You can see Joette here. And if you go to the website, your vote may help it get shown!

Jay Johnson used the proofs of this shot -- not even a finished headshot -- and landed a role in an independent film with 9:23 Films entitled Chicago Heights.

This is a great example of targeting your headshots. With Jay's military background we wanted to target the tough cop archetype. The specificity of this shot was interesting, yet univeral enough to get him called for a sexually conflicted minister. When Jay wrote and told me about the film he said, "I did want to let you know that I cut out a proof and sent it as a headshot for an audition, the one with the vest and the sleeves pushed up, for a "reverand" role...and I GOT IT! Man, you've got the magic eye, that's for sure."

Mary Anne Bowman, who just finished a run at the Theater Building in one of four one-acts entitled 4Play received unsolicited praise for her headshot: "One of them said almost exactly what you have on your archetype blog -- that the picture really shows who I am as a person and that the eyes are very striking. You really do have a good eye. Virtually everyone in the business (actors, directors and the like) have been the most impressed with the green shirt shot."

Dominic Bogart, who is one of the ensemble members of the Chicago company for Jersey Boys was promoted to covering the four leads. He's currently auditioning around Chicago and it looks like he intends to make it his home.

Next season at The Side Project will include a fall one-act festival (three productions in rep, running from November 16 thru December 21,) with a similar slot set for April. Adam Webster, artistic director, is spreading his wings and currently has a production of Glengarry Glen Ross running with RedTwist. And opening September 27, he is directing a production of Dracula for Theatre-Hikes out at Moron Arboretum.

Also currently running and receiving rave reviews is Eclipse Theatre's Plaza Suite at the Victory Garden's Greenhouse. Next up is Lillian Hellman's The Autumn Garden, directed by artistic director, Nat Swift.

Kate Teichman is perhaps one of the hardest working actors in Chicago. She's currently playing Daniel Day Lewis in the Prop Theater's production of Daniel Day Lewis and the Big Potatoes. Opening at the end of October will be her own production of The Maids at the Acme Art Works space, 2215 W. North Ave.

Lizzie Lovelady is assistant stage managing Iolanthe for Light Opera Works, and will begin her first professional directing assignment as assistant director on Love Person with Sandy Shiner at Victory Gardens.

And last, but certainly not least...

Ryan Salzwedel has also been very busy, shooting a short film, The Getaway Job, the hidden camera show Entrapment, and a lead role for an Animal Planet production. In August he'll shoot the feature Little Fur. 2009 will be big for Ryan. He's making the move to the East coast! You can read Ryan's blog here.

OK. That's it for us. See you in September!

Plaza Suite

Perhaps, in the serious-minded, off-Loop theatre community there is no more provocative two words than "Neil Simon." You don't do Neil Simon. His plays are worthy pieces of Theatre. They're froth. "High-school kids knock this stuff out of the park."

Several years ago, while I had disengaged from the theater scene and was clawing my way up the corporate ladder, I heard there was a company who was devoting an entire season to Neil Simon. I thought the idea was genius. High-school kids and amateur community theater groups do indeed knock this stuff out of the park. Having been a part of a community theater as a teen, I can tell you that his plays were cash cows that kept more than one group afloat. Audiences love his work.

Which is truly a testament quality, not mediocrity. This summer there is a chance to see one of Simon's most popular plays, Plaza Suite, and the genius of the playwright and of Eclipse Theatre just rolls across the stage. Simon's texts are delicately structured. The dialogue is constructed perfectly so that the audience can laugh and still not miss a syllable. The saying goes, "Death is easy, Comedy is hard." Well writing comedy is harder. His plays are like spun sugar castles. They taste good to the uneducated palate, but to the connoisseur the artistry of the dialogue construction is reason to love Simon. There is no playwright, Shakespeare included, who consistently delivers comic delight.

Eclipse offers an all-star cast in this delightful production of Plaza Suite, running now at the the Victory Gardens Greenhouse through Labor Day. Directed by Steve Scott, this cast includes Ted Hoerl, Nora Fiffer, Nathaniel Swift, Jon Steinhagen, JP Pierson, Cheri Chenoweth, CeCe Klinger, and Frances Wilkerson. Even if you're a theatre snob -- or especially if you're a theatre snob -- you should not miss this production.

Ken Puttbach Designs

Last December, during one of the worst ice storms in Chicago's history, I went to Loyola to shoot the set up for a fundraising, Christmas party at Loyola University. It was a relatively small affair for three hundred of Loyola's most ardent supporters that was designed by Ken Puttbach Designs. Ken and his staff spent two days transforming a meeting room into a old English Christmas wonderland.

Now, in all fair disclosure, not only is Ken a brilliant party designer, he's also a friend of mine. That said...he's a brilliant designer. And he's busy. So, if you're in the need of party or bridal designs, call him now and book. Especially for the holidays. because Ken's schedule fills up quickly. Check out the Archetype website for contact information.

By Popular Demand...

...coming soon...Wedding Photo Services

Vacation

A much-earned, and well-deserved vacation for Archetype Images: the entire month of August. Book your September sessions now.